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{{Short description|African grey parrot}}
{{Otheruses4|a [[parrot]]|the traditional artifacts from the [[Congo Basin]]|Nkisi}}
{{About|the parrot|the traditional artifacts from the Congo Basin|Nkisi}}
{{Infobox animal
| name = N'kisi
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| species = ''[[Psittacus erithacus]]''
| hatch_date =
| hatch_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| known_for = Intelligent use of language
}}


'''N'kisi''' is a young [[African grey parrot]] renowned for his impressive [[English language|English]] usage skills and other abilities.
'''N'kisi''' is a [[grey parrot]] (''Psittacus erithacus'') thought to exhibit advanced [[English language|English]] talking skills and other abilities.


==Accomplishments==
According to news reports and websites, as of January 2004, N'kisi had a vocabulary of about 950 words and used them in context, frequently in complete sentences, has approximated verb forms to maintain the correct tense (such as saying ''flied'' as the past tense of ''fly''), and does not depend on learned phrases to communicate his thoughts.
According to news reports and websites,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/animals/newsid_3432000/3432133.stm |title=Chatty parrot stuns scientists |date=26 January 2004 |accessdate=2011-06-22 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916231331/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/animals/newsid_3432000/3432133.stm |archivedate=2016-09-16 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-112560245.html HighBeam]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm |title=BBC NEWS &#124; Science/Nature &#124; Parrot's oratory stuns scientists |accessdate=2006-05-19 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519061120/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm |archivedate=2006-05-19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519061120/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 May 2006|title=BBC NEWS - Science/Nature - Parrot's oratory stuns scientists|date=19 May 2006}}</ref> as of January 2004 N'kisi had a vocabulary of about 950 words and used them in context, frequently in complete sentences, had approximated verb forms to maintain the correct tense (such as saying ''flied'' when not knowing the past tense of ''fly''), and did not depend on learned phrases to communicate his thoughts.


N'kisi was shown as being supposedly capable of understanding photographic images, naming objects (within his vocabulary) appearing in a photo and inventing new terms for things he does not know words for by combining other words, like "pretty smell medicine" for aromatherapy oils. One anecdote recounted by the primatologist [[Jane Goodall]] says that, upon meeting her in person after seeing a photo of her, N'Kisi asked, "Got a chimp?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usaweekend.com/04_issues/040222/040222smartanimals.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130205192834/http://www.usaweekend.com/04_issues/040222/040222smartanimals.html|url-status=dead|title=- USA WEEKEND - usaweekend.com|date=5 February 2013|archivedate=5 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.projo.com/ri/hopkinton/content/JANE_GOODALL08_05-08-08_RJA2H78_v81.37330d1.html |title=JANE GOODALL08 05 08 08 RJA2H78 V81.37330d1.HTML |accessdate=2011-06-22 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629042353/http://www.projo.com/ri/hopkinton/content/JANE_GOODALL08_05-08-08_RJA2H78_v81.37330d1.html |archivedate=2011-06-29 }}</ref> It was claimed he demonstrated a possible sense of humor.
According to these sources, N'kisi is capable of understanding photographic images, and is able to name things (within his vocabulary) of objects appearing in a photo. One anecdote says that upon meeting [[Jane Goodall]] in person and seeing a photo of her, he asked "Got a chimp?" It is claimed he demonstrates what appears to be a sense of humor.


==Controversy==
A study has also been published [http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/abstracts/v17n4a1.php] testing N'kisi for telepathic abilities. Mainstream science does not accept the existence of paranormal powers; but some scientists including [[Brian Josephson]], Nobel Laureate in Physics, have theorized that telepathy may be related to the "non-local" phenomena observed in quantum research, although the mechanism for such phenomena remains unexplained.
There is controversy about whether parrots are capable of using language, or merely mimic what they hear. Some scientific studies—for example those conducted over a 30-year period by [[Irene Pepperberg]] with a grey parrot named [[Alex (parrot)|Alex]] and other parrots, covered in stories on network television on numerous occasions<ref>[https://archive.today/20130211003835/http://www.amazon.de/dp/0061672475 ''Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process'': Amazon.de: Irene Pepperberg: Englische Bücher<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>—have suggested that these parrots are capable of using words meaningfully in linguistic tasks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nserc.ca/news/features/parrot_e.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215082122/http://www.nserc.ca/news/features/parrot_e.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2007|title=NSERC - Web Features - This Bird Is No Airhead: Scientist|date=15 December 2007}}</ref>


N'kisi took part in a published scientific study of [[Telepathy|telepathic]] abilities conducted by [[Rupert Sheldrake]] and the parrot's owner Aimee Morgana, after Morgana had reported seemingly telepathic reactions from the bird, such as it commenting on a movie Morgana was watching despite not being able to see the screen, or saying "hi Rob" when Morgana picked up the phone to call a friend of that name.<ref name="se"/> The researchers who conducted the study claim the results present a statistically significant indication of ability, while the study<ref name="se">{{cite web|url=http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/abstracts/v17n4a1.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113161253/http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/abstracts/v17n4a1.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2008|title=Society for Scientific Exploration - Journal of Scientific Exploration - Testing a Language-Using Parrot for Telepathy|date=13 January 2008}}{{rs?|date=February 2020}}</ref> has been criticized by skeptics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skepdic.com/nkisi.html |title=N'kisi & the N'kisi Project - the Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com |accessdate=2012-10-09 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223162805/http://www.skepdic.com/nkisi.html |archivedate=2016-12-23 }}</ref>
⚫
===See also===


⚫
==See also==
⚫
* [[Alex (parrot)]]
* [[List of individual birds]]
* [[Batyr|Batyr (elephant)]]
* [[Hoover (seal)]]
⚫
* [[Kanzi (bonobo)]]
* [[Koko (gorilla)]]
* [[Koko (gorilla)]]
* [[Washoe (chimpanzee)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.sheldrake.org/nkisi The N'kisi Project Page]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm Parrot's oratory stuns scientists (BBC News)]
*[http://www.sheldrake.org/nkisi/nkisi1_text.html AVIAN CONTEXTUAL LANGUAGE USE IN INTERSPECIES SOCIAL INTERACTIONS]
* [http://www.sheldrake.org/nkisi/nkisi1_text.html Hear N'kisi Speak]
*[http://www.sheldrake.org/nkisi/ N'Kisi project -- Interspecies telepathy communications]
* [http://www.skepdic.com/nkisi.html Skeptic's Dictionary entry on N'kisi]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130812141435/http://www.sheldrake.org/D%26C/controversies/carroll.html A rebuttal to Skeptic]
* [http://www.skepdic.com/refuge/replytosheldrake.html A rebuttal to the rebuttal to Skeptic]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Nkisi}}
[[Category:Parrots]]
[[Category:Famous birds]]
[[Category:Individual parrots]]
[[Category:Animal intelligence]]
[[Category:Animal intelligence]]
[[Category:Individual talking birds]]
[[Category:Individual birds in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 15:36, 24 May 2024

This article is about the parrot. For the traditional artifacts from the Congo Basin, see Nkisi.
N'kisi
SpeciesPsittacus erithacus
Known forIntelligent use of language

N'kisi is a grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) thought to exhibit advanced English talking skills and other abilities.

Accomplishments

[edit]

According to news reports and websites,[1][2][3][4] as of January 2004 N'kisi had a vocabulary of about 950 words and used them in context, frequently in complete sentences, had approximated verb forms to maintain the correct tense (such as saying flied when not knowing the past tense of fly), and did not depend on learned phrases to communicate his thoughts.

N'kisi was shown as being supposedly capable of understanding photographic images, naming objects (within his vocabulary) appearing in a photo and inventing new terms for things he does not know words for by combining other words, like "pretty smell medicine" for aromatherapy oils. One anecdote recounted by the primatologist Jane Goodall says that, upon meeting her in person after seeing a photo of her, N'Kisi asked, "Got a chimp?"[5][6] It was claimed he demonstrated a possible sense of humor.

Controversy

[edit]

There is controversy about whether parrots are capable of using language, or merely mimic what they hear. Some scientific studies—for example those conducted over a 30-year period by Irene Pepperberg with a grey parrot named Alex and other parrots, covered in stories on network television on numerous occasions[7]—have suggested that these parrots are capable of using words meaningfully in linguistic tasks.[8]

N'kisi took part in a published scientific study of telepathic abilities conducted by Rupert Sheldrake and the parrot's owner Aimee Morgana, after Morgana had reported seemingly telepathic reactions from the bird, such as it commenting on a movie Morgana was watching despite not being able to see the screen, or saying "hi Rob" when Morgana picked up the phone to call a friend of that name.[9] The researchers who conducted the study claim the results present a statistically significant indication of ability, while the study[9] has been criticized by skeptics.[10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Chatty parrot stuns scientists". 26 January 2004. Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  2. ^ HighBeam[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Parrot's oratory stuns scientists". Archived from the original on 2006-05-19. Retrieved 2006-05-19.
  4. ^ "BBC NEWS - Science/Nature - Parrot's oratory stuns scientists". 19 May 2006. Archived from the original on 19 May 2006.
  5. ^ "- USA WEEKEND - usaweekend.com". 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013.
  6. ^ "JANE GOODALL08 05 08 08 RJA2H78 V81.37330d1.HTML". Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  7. ^ Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process: Amazon.de: Irene Pepperberg: Englische Bücher
  8. ^ "NSERC - Web Features - This Bird Is No Airhead: Scientist". 15 December 2007. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007.
  9. ^ a b "Society for Scientific Exploration - Journal of Scientific Exploration - Testing a Language-Using Parrot for Telepathy". 13 January 2008. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008.[unreliable source?]
  10. ^ "N'kisi & the N'kisi Project - the Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com". Archived from the original on 2016-12-23. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
[edit]
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